Team rosters must be submitted before the team’s first game, hard copy or email.

Teams shall have a minimum of 12 players and a maximum of 15 players.

All team rosters need to include the full names and date of birth.

Any child who will attain the age of 10 years before May 1 and will not attain the age of 13 before May 1 of 2015 shall be eligible to compete in the Tournament.

The manager of each team MUST have a copy of each player’s birth certificate at every game. The manager may ask the umpire in Chief to check any player’s birth certificate. If the birth certificate is not at the game, the player in question must be removed immediately. If the manager cannot provide a birth certificate of the removed player before the tournament ends, ALL games the player in question played in shall be considered a forfeit.

No roster changes are allowed after the first game has been played.

PRELIMINARY

Teams are randomly assigned as home and visitor. This will be reflected in the schedule. During the playoff round, the higher seed will be considered the home team.

The decision of the Tournament Director is final.

SCORING

Each team must designate a scorekeeper and a pitch count recorder who will maintain a record of the pitch count.

The pitch count recorder must report the pitch count to the other team’s scorekeeper at the end of each inning.

The pitch count recorders must provide the current pitch count for any pitcher when requested by the opposing coach or any umpire. The manager is responsible for knowing when his/her pitcher must be removed.

The pitch count recorders shall inform the umpire when a pitcher has delivered his/her maximum limit of pitches for the game. The umpire will inform the pitcher’s coach that the pitcher must be removed. Failure of the pitch count recorders to notify the umpire, and/or the failure of the umpire to notify the coach, does not relieve the manager of his/her responsibility to remove a pitcher when that pitcher is no longer eligible.

Violation of any section of this rule could result in forfeiture of the game in which it occurs.

Coaches must confirm pitch count results of pitchers along with the score of the game with the opposing coach.

After all reporting requirements are met the game will be designated as an official game played.

Any game that is tied upon completion of six innings will be finished in an extended innings format as follows:

7th Inning on will be played just as the 6th inning is played.

Home Team gets last bats and if a run is scored to take a lead during home half inning the game is over.

Coaches must confirm pitch count results of pitchers along with the score of the game to the same as a non-extended innings game.

PLAYING RULES

Official 2013 regular Major Little League playing rules shall govern tournament play with exceptions as noted.

Unsportsmanlike conduct such as, throwing of bats, gloves, helmets, hats, and harassing opponents is NOT permitted.

Each team will field 9 players (3 outfielders only). Each player must play a minimum of 6 consecutive defensive outs. Continuous batting order applies to the entire roster on every team.

Due to the continuous batting order, no one can enter the game as a pinch runner unless the player is injured. If injured, the previously out batter is the pinch runner.

Nine players qualify as a team for play. If a team cannot field 9 players, the game will be delayed ten (10) minutes from the official start time in order to field a team. If, after a 10 minute wait, a team cannot field an official team, they will forfeit the game.

Any batted ball that hits the trees in foul territory and comes back into the field of play shall be ruled a dead ball.

Any batted ball which hits the trees that overhang the outfieldfence, in fair territory, and returns to the playing field shall be ruled a home run.

Pitchers must warm up in Bullpen area. During game play a player with a Batting Helmet and Glove must face home plate to shield pitcher and catcher from foul balls

Ending a Game

Every attempt should be made to finish a game in the allotted time which is 2 hours.No inning can start after 8:15 P.M.The Umpire in Chief and/or the Tournament Director shall stop play if conditions warrant.

If a game needs to end due to darkness or another game is schedule for that field, the game will end.

If a game is called due to darkness, another scheduled game, rain, etc., the score at the previously completed inning will determine the winner. If the home team is winning in an incomplete inning, the home team shall be the winner.

Regulation games are of four or more innings in which one team has scored more runs than the other (three and one-half (3½) if the home team is ahead).

TEN RUN RULE

If at the end of a regulation game one team has a lead of ten (10) runs or more the manager of the team with the least runs shall concede the victory to the opponent. If the visiting team has a lead of ten (10) or more runs the home team must bat in their half of the inning.

PITCHING RULES

All pitching from the mound @ 46 feet

2013 Little League Pitch Count Rules apply. The table below gives an overview of the number of pitches that will be allowed per day for each age group.

Pitching Guidelines:

League Age

Pitches Per Day

11-12

85

9-10

75

Exception:

If a pitcher reaches the limit imposed in Regulation VI (c) for his/her league age while facing a batter, the pitcher may continue to pitch until any one of the following conditions occurs:

1. That batter reaches base

2. That batter is put out

3. The third out is made to complete the half-inning.

Note 1: A pitcher who delivers 41 or more pitches in a game cannot play the position of catcher for the remainder of that day.

Note 2: If a player catches any portion of 4 innings, that player cannot pitch in that game.

Pitching Thresholds

66 or more pitches

4 calendar days rest

51 – 65 pitches

3 calendar days rest

36 – 50 pitches

2 calendar day rest

21 – 35 pitches

1 calendar day rest

1 - 20 pitches

No calendar day rest required

For the 2013 season, wording was revised allowing a pitcher who reaches his/her imposed days of rest threshold while facing a batter to continue to pitch until the current batter has been retired or reaches base.

Manager must remove pitcher when pitch limit is reached – pitcher may finish batter to which he is pitching.

Both teams should count pitches for each team, compare between innings and at the end of the game.

Teams should agree on pitch count between innings and at the end of the game.

A player once removed from the mound may not return as a pitcher in the same game.

Violation of these rules is subject to protest and can result in forfeiture by action of the tournament director.

VISITS

A manager or coach may not leave the dugout area for any reason during a game without receiving permission from the umpire. When permission is granted the manager or coach will be permitted to go to the mound to confer with the pitcher or any defensive player(s).

A manager or coach who is granted a time out to talk to any defensive player will be charged with a visit to the pitcher.

A manager or coach may come out twice in one inning to visit with the pitcher, but the second visit will require the player be removed as a pitcher.

A manager or coach may come out three times in a game to visit with the pitcher, but the third visit in a game requires the player must be removed as a pitcher. This rule applies to each pitcher who enters a game.

All other conferences must be conducted from the baseline, with the exception of a player injury.

Composite Bats – Follow Little League Rules

This tournament follows Little league rules regarding composite bats. Umpires will inspect the bats prior to each game. If you have composite bats, it is the responsibility of the team’s manager to demonstrate that a bat is on the Little League approved list which is on the LL website. If the manager cannot demonstrate it is, the bat will be removed from play. If a bat is deemed to be ineligible, it must be removed from the dugout. If that bat is used during the game, the game will be forfeited by that team.

PROPER ON FIELD CONDUCT

The below items are intended to reinforce proper Little League etiquette as outlined in the rules.

No ball/strike calls, on field decisions as they relate to safe/out calls, etc. are to be challenged by any Manager/Coach. It is the umpire’s discretion to remove a player/coach from the game if these calls are challenged. This includes what they call “Chirping” from the dugout. “Chirping” is grumbling about plays/calls from the dugout loud enough for the umpire to hear.

If a manager/Coach wishes to clarify a call based upon LL Rules, they must call time out after the play and politely ask the umpire about the call/ruling. Regardless of the outcome, the manager/Coach must accept that decision and not further challenge the umpire.

Managers/coaches are also responsible for the conduct of their players and parents. Anyone who is disrespectful to the umpire or any opposing player or coach should be removed from the game or the stands.The umpire has the ability to make that decision as well.

Only 3 coaches are to be in the dugout. No other parents or coaches are allowed in the dugout.

Lastly, if poor sportsmanship/conduct is witnessed by the Tournament Director or a member of the Barkhamsted Youth Baseball Board of Directors, we reserve the right to remove that person from the game

MISCELLANEOUS

All scheduling is subject to change and must be approved by Tournament Director.

The Tournament Director will arrange make-up games.

Infield fly rule will be in effect.

If a live ball goes under a fence or stuck in a fence, the closest player shall wave his hat, the ball is dead and the umpire shall award the batter/runners the bases allowed by rule.

We all want to win, but let’s not forget to have some fun too.

We WILL be using the dropped 3rd strike rule.

Players are prohibited from “slashing”. Slashing is defined as faking a bunt, they pulling back to hit the ball. If a player does this, the play is dead and batter will be called out.